Date of Award
4-1-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
School of Education
First Advisor
Linda Samek, EdD
Second Advisor
Jenelle Stone, PhD
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine academic and demographic variables that predict timely completion of a bachelor of science in nursing program. Timely completion of a nursing curriculum affects current students, future students, health care organizations, and the general public. The purpose of this quantitative, retrospective study was to identify evidence-based academic admission criteria that would help select pre-nursing students mostly likely to complete the nursing curriculum on time, without failures. The variables of age, gender, ethnicity, and transfer student status were also analyzed to determine their impact on timely completion. The study utilized logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis to determine how preadmission cumulative grade point average, pre-admission sciences, and demographic variables correlated with timely completion. Furthermore, pre-admission sciences were analyzed to determine their relationship with passing nursing theory classes with exams.
A statistically significant relationship was found between pre-admission cumulative grade point average and timely completion. General, Organic, and Biological (GOB) Chemistry was found to predict timely completion, success in pathophysiology, and success in pharmacology. Microbiology was also found to have a predictive relationship with passing pharmacology. Transfer student status, science repeats, age, gender, and ethnicity were not found to be statistically significant for predicting success in nursing theory classes or timely completion. GOB Chemistry and Microbiology are recommended to be evaluated separately for admission criteria using a B cut-off grade for solely academic admission. Future studies could focus on how adding holistic admissions to academic criteria impacts timely completion.
Recommended Citation
Kacalek, Catherine A., "Baccalaureate Nursing Admissions and Academic Predictors of Timely Program Completion" (2025). Doctor of Education (EdD). 256.
https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/edd/256